Table of Contents:
This teacher’s copy of the Death and life after death lesson plan is printer-friendly.
RESOURCES:
A cardboard box on a table with a dish containing a little bit of fat/lard in it and a big cloth over it, so no one knows what is inside the box.
Three pieces of paper describing what is reckoned to be under the cloth:
- A delicious very satisfying Mars bar.
- A lovely refreshing After Eight mint.
- A very sweet enjoyable Cadbury’s cream egg.
Some tissues to wipe the volunteer’s fingers!
STARTER:
Death is something that we can find it difficult to talk about.
But let’s imagine when we were a little younger, and a distant auntie or uncle dies.
We suddenly see a completely different thing happening to the normal family routine:
- We see a lot of people dressing up in black clothes and everyone meets at a building which we haven’t seen before.
- There are hushed voices.
- The wooden coffin can be seen at the front and perhaps we try to picture the body of the aunt or uncle inside it.
- Later on, most people meet at someone’s house and many just don’t know what to say.
- As time progresses the volume of the conversations increases, as people find other things to talk about.
Then over the next few weeks, everything is back to the way it was, except that Auntie………….. or Uncle………….. just aren’t around anymore.
Q. Who has experienced something like that?
Death can become a banned subject to talk about!
Many countries do funerals differently
Our society allows lots of Hollywood deaths on our TVs, but when someone close to us dies, society, in general, does not like thinking about death.
The coffin is either removed from our sight by going behind some curtains, or at the burial, the hole in the ground is lined with posh material and is not filled in while the mourners are there.
All of this softens the striking image of death.
But in many countries in the world, the coffin is left open so that the family can see their dead, loved one.
Also at the burial, there is a real hole in the ground with real earth that is used to refill that hole.
When a pet dies
But this softened picture of death can be changed when a favourite pet dies.
The wonderful life of that pet who gave so much pleasure is suddenly very still on the chair.
The pet can be taken for someone else to deal with the body, or your family can do it.
After a hole is dug in the garden, this lifeless body is laid gently in the bottom, and the earth is put back.
It is a very memorable moment.
Once that body was filled with life, strength, fun and character. Now it is lifeless.
Perhaps you feel grateful for all the pleasure that this animal has given you.
And perhaps in some way, you feel honoured to have experienced and seen their death.
Q. Who has had a pet that has died?
Q. Do you feel that you have learnt anything from the experience?
MAIN TEACHING:
Who can tell us about death?
This is not the sort of thing you can say: “Hang on a moment I will just go and die and then I’ll come back and tell you about it!”
Q. So what other options have we got, to find out about it?
[a] Back from the dead experiences:
A few people claim to have experienced death, and have then been saved by doctors.
Some say that it was like being in a black tunnel and there was a bright light, or that they were greeted by various people.
Some scientists are convinced that whilst dying, the brain could naturally see these sorts of pictures because it is being starved of oxygen.
Then if someone recovers they can remember what they saw, but it probably isn’t real, it is just their imagination.
[b] Asking the dead through ‘mediums’ etc:
The Bible warns that it is wrong to try to speak to the dead:
Let no one be found among you… who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.”
Deuteronomy 18:10-12 NIV
The Bible also says:
When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?”
Isaiah 8:19 NIV
Christians believe that God does not want us to try to contact the dead.
[c] Ask God about it:
This sounds too obvious.
But here’s an illustration to show how sensible this suggestion really is:
(Teacher’s note: Put your cardboard box on a table with the dish of fat/lard already in it and have the big cloth over it, so no one knows what is inside the box).
I want four volunteers.
(Teacher’s note: 3 to read off the pieces of paper to try and persuade the 4th person what is under the cloth.)
These three people are going to tell you what is under this cloth – try to describe the object in more words than what is written on these pieces of paper.
First one… second one… and third one…
(Teacher’s note: Now look to the volunteer who will put their hand into the box)
You have heard what they’ve all said.
Do you want to put your hand into the box and try to get what is in there – without removing the cloth, because you mustn’t see inside?
Or, perhaps you would like to ask me first before doing that because I’m the one who organised this!
Q. What does everyone think he/she should do?
Q. You have now got to make the decision, what are you going to do?
(Teacher’s note: If the volunteer asks you what is under the cloth, then you will have to tell the truth that it is a lump of horrible, sticky, fatty stuff. But whatever they decide, they should still put their hand under the cloth to feel for the item!)
Q. What can we learn from that illustration?
There were a number of people who had an opinion on what was under the cloth.
But the best person to ask was the one who had been around when it was originally put together.
So going back to our subject of death, it is best to ask God who has been around since death originally happened.
Those three with their ideas on what was under the cloth, are like the many voices that try to say what they think death is like.
The Bible tells us that death is not the end
Christians believe that God speaks through the Bible, and the Bible tells us that death is not the end.
Paul said that that there:
will be a resurrection of both the righteous and ungodly. Because of this, I try with all my strength to always maintain a clear conscience before God and man.”
Acts 24:16 (The Living Bible)
On one occasion Jesus told a story, a parable, about what it was like after death.
He used a picture sort of language to describe it.
Here is a shortened version of what He said:
“There was a rich man who lived in luxury every day
and then a beggar named Lazarus was laid outside his gate.
Lazarus had no money and he survived on little scraps of food and he was covered with sores.
But the rich man, who only lived for himself, made no effort to help Lazarus.
The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to the place where Abraham and many others who had believed in God were.
The rich man also died and was buried, and he found himself in a place of pain.
He looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
So he called out: ‘Have pity on me and send Lazarus to cool me down from these flames.’
But Abraham replied,
‘Remember that in your lifetime you ignored Lazarus whilst you lived in luxury.
Now he is in comfort and you are suffering because of what you did.
And besides all this, there is a great chasm between you and us that no one can cross over.’
He answered, ‘I beg you then, go to my relatives and warn them so that they will not come here to this terrible place.’
But Abraham said, ‘They’ve got the Scriptures (Bible) haven’t they? They should read them!’
‘No, they won’t take notice of them’ he said, ‘but if someone goes back from the dead to speak to them, then they will turn to God!’
But Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not take notice of the Scriptures, then they will not be convinced even if someone is raised from the dead.’” (Luke 16:19-31)
Q. What do you think about the statement: ‘They’ve got the Scriptures (the Bible) haven’t they? They should read them!’
Q. Have you heard anything from the Bible?
Q. What do you think about the statement: ‘If they do not take notice of the Scriptures, then they will not be convinced even if someone is raised from the dead.’
Do you agree?
Remember that Christians believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, but the majority of people still did not believe in him.
All the evidence is there within the Bible, and anyone can read or hear about it from others, so that means that there is no excuse of: ‘It’s not my fault, I didn’t know that!’
Death is a doorway to a different life:
Someone who lives a selfish life sees the door of death as a problem.
It marks an end to them building themselves up into someone big, rich and important.
The Bible says that when someone like this dies, their hopes all die too because they are only based upon this earthly life. (Proverbs 11:7)
Death for them becomes something to fear. It is an awful thing.
It is something that can never be defeated.
But a Christian can say the words that are in the Bible:
Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
1 Corinthians 15:55 NIV
They can say that because Jesus has defeated the power of sin and death.
So death can no longer be victorious over them and it has no dreadful sting left in it.
And they can also agree with the words of the Apostle Paul who said that for him, he was living his life for Jesus Christ, and when the time came for him to die, he would receive a reward which would be far better than what this life could ever offer. (Philippians 1:21-23)
Jesus said:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 NIV
Jesus also had this to say about eternal life:
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
John 14:1-3 NIV
In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.
I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, that you also may be where I am.”
PLENARY:
Q. Do you think that death is a doorway or the end?
Q. Are your family able to talk about the subject of death?
Q. Has this lesson made you think more about the subject?
Q. How would you like people to remember your life?
Either take a short time to discuss these questions, or leave it with them.
Teachers note: There are two worksheets to accompany this lesson plan:
Death and life after death worksheet 1
Death and life after death worksheet 2
See also: Death and life after death. RE resources